Automatic winding mechanism for timepieces



April 23, 1946. F, MATTER 2,399,131

AUTOMATIC WINDING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed 'Oct. 2'7, 1943 Patented Apr. 23, 1946 1 i AUTOMATIC WINDING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Fritz Matter, Grenchen, Swit ierland, assignor to A. Michel S.-A. Grenchen,

Switzerland, a

joint-stock Company of Switzerland Application October 27, 1943, Serial No. 507,852 In Switzerland July 9, 1942 4 Claims.

This inventio relates to automatic winding mechanisms for ime pieces.

The smaller the outer diameter of a watch case the more unfavorable the conditions with regard to the possibility of mounting an automatic winding mechanism. Not only must the swinging member be smaller but so must the lever arm of the same, so that the swinging member whose amplitude is dependent on the size of the watch runs the risk of being ineffective.

Object of the present invention is an automatic winding mechanism for time pieces, particularly for small wrist watches but alsofor other watches, in which the conditions are chosen so that even in small watches a spring power can be stored suflicient to maintain the watch in operation. This automatic winding mechanism is characterised in that the swinging member, mounted on the centerof the watch, can swing in both directions at any angle, the oscillations in both directions being utilized for the winding operation. The mechanism is preferably equipped with a swinging arm carrying a pinion which is in rotating relation with the swinging member. According to the direction of rotation of the swinging member the swinging arm occupies the One or the other of its end positions in order to transmit the movement of the swinging member to different wheels.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a top view, and

Fig. 2 represents sections taken on lines ABCD and EFGH of Fig. 1.

The swinging member is mounted on the center of the plate I. It comprises a weight 2 fixed to a plate 3 covering about half the movement. The member is pivoted at the center of the watch on a pin 4 by means of a hollow boss 5 fastened to the plate 3 and mounted on the pin by means of two jewels 6 and 1. Weight 2 and plate 3 might also be made in one boss. The hollow piece 5 has at its lower part a toothed rim 8 engaging a pinion 9 mounted by means of the screw H on the end of a swinging arm Ill. The lengthened shank of the screw goes at l2 beyond the swinging arm l and thus forms a stop pin to cooperate with the wall of a recess I 4 provided on the frame l3 of the winding mechanism. This wall determines the two end positions of the arm In. In one end position the pinion 9 engages the wheel I and in the other end position the wheel l6, these Wheels forming part of the winding mechanism.

The pinion 9 is constantly in engagement with the toothed rim 8, whatever the position of the oscillation arm l0 may be. If the hollow boss 5 rotates in one or the other direction, the pinion 9 is at first taken along until the extension I! strikes against the wall of the recess 14. Now, the pinion 9 is either in contact with the wheel l5 or with the wheel l6 and the movements of the oscillating member 2, 3 are transmitted to the spring motor by means of a reduction gear. The gear ratio is thus that, in spite of the small oscillating member and the small lever arm, a sufiicient power is always transmittedto the spring motor.

From the foregoing and the drawing it may be seen that the oscillating member can rotate atany angle and that any movement serves to wind up the spring motor. The sensibility of the device is such that it is effective even in the smallest watches and in pocket chronometers.

What I claim is:

1. In a time piece, a spring motor, and a winding mechanism to load said spring motor automatically, comprising wheels in cooperating relation with said spring motor, a swinging member with a first pinion mounted on the center of the time piece, a swinging arm, a second pinion mounted on said swinging arm in constant engagement with said first pinion, said second pinion being arranged between and alternately engaging one or another of said wheels to load said spring motor in both directions of rotation of said swinging member.

2. In a time piece, a spring motor, and a winding mechanism to load said sprin motor automatically, comprising wheels in cooperating relation with said spring motor, a swinging member with a first pinion mounted on the center of the time piece, a swinging arm, adapted to occupy two end positions, a second pinion arranged between said walls and mounted on said swinging arm in constant engagement with said first pinion, said second pinion in the one end position of said arm engaging one, in the other end position ofsaid arm engaging another of said wheels to load said spring motor in both directions of rotation of said swinging member.

3. In a time piece, aspring motor, and a winding mechanism to load said spring motor automatically, comprising two wheels in cooperating relation with said spring motor and so arranged that one side of the periphery of one wheel is in close proximity to the opposite side of the other wheel, a swinging member pivotally mounted at the center of the time piece, and means interconnecting said swinging member and said wheels to load said spring motor in both directions of rotation of said swinging member, said means being arranged substantially in a triangle defined by imaginary lines intersecting the axes of the wheels and the center of the time piece.

4. In a time piece, a spring motor, and a Winding mechanism to load said spring motor automatically, comprising two gears in cooperating relation with said spring motor and s0 arranged that one side of the periphery of one gear is in close proximity to the opposite side of the other gear, a swinging member pivotally mounted at the center of the time piece and provided with a third gear movable therewith and having its axis coaxial With the axis about which said member swings, and means interconnecting said swinging member and said first mentioned gears to load said spring motor in both direction of rotation of said swinging member, said means including a fourth gear arranged within a triangle defined by lines intersecting the axes of the first two gears and the third gear, the fourth gear being positioned between the peripheries of the first two gears and constantly meshing with the third gear.

FRITZ MATTER. 

